Isaac may restrengthen after threatening Jamaica this weekend

September 14, 2018, 5:32:28 AM EDT

After plowing through the Lesser Antilles with flooding rain and gusty winds, Tropical Depression Isaac will threaten the western Caribbean by next week.

Isaac passed through the Lesser Antilles on Thursday near Dominica and Martinique and will continue on a westward path through the Caribbean into Sunday.

Isolated wind gusts around 80 km/h (50 mph) were found on the island of Dominica on Thursday.

Now past the Lesser Antilles, Isaac is a tropical depression forecast to track south of Puerto Rico and Hispaniola. An uptick in shower and thunderstorm activity is expected in these areas late in the week and over the weekend.

The southern-facing coastlines may have rough seas as well as stronger rip currents.

Residents and visitors of Jamaica will need to closely monitor the track of Isaac as well.

The storm may pass very close to the island by the end of the weekend, bringing with it heavy rain and gusty winds.

Even with the storm's brisk movement, rainfall can be heavy enough to trigger localized flooding. Tree and power line damage will also be possible.

Small craft may need to remain in port on Sunday, as seas may remain dangerous until Isaac dissipates or moves away.

"Waters remain very warm over the western Caribbean and Gulf of Mexico," said AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.

"Provided wind shear is low, there is the potential for Isaac to gain strength and ramp up, possibly to hurricane strength, before approaching any land in along the U.S. Gulf Coast next week," Sosnowski added.

If Isaac is unable to overcome the area of disruptive winds in the atmosphere, the environment instead could weaken Isaac to just a tropical wave before reaching the Yucatan Channel.

Should this be the case, lingering tropical moisture could bring heavier rains to the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico as well as the western half of Cuba early next week.

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